Sade Olutola
Cosmic Funnies
Sweet Seals For You, Always
Cookie Run:Kingdom Official!
Fai_Ryy
Show & Tell
@theartofmadeline
Game Changer & Make Some Noise
ellievsbear
Product Placement
occasionally subtle
𓃗
Game of Thrones Daily
taylor price
almost home
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
tumblr dot com
No title available
Noah Kahan
🪼
seen from Singapore
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from T1
seen from Ukraine
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from France
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Argentina
seen from Peru
@adventawake
30 December 2013 — Sixth Day of Christmas
Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth— Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons — and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany
27 December 2013 — Fifth Day of Christmas :: Feast of the Holy Family of St. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, Feast of Thomas Becket ::
Joseph's Lullaby -- MercyMe
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons — and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany
28 December 2013 — Fourth Day of Christmas ::Feast of the Holy Innocents ::
The Coventry Carol — Alex Kingston
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons — and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany.
27 December 2013 -- Third Day of Christmas
Go, Tell It on the Mountain -- Starfield
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons -- and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany
26 December 2013 -- Second Day of Christmas :: Feast of St. Stephen ::
Good King Wenceslas, The Piano Guys
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons -- and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany
25 December 2013 -- Christmas Day
O Come, All Ye Faithful arr. David Willcocks, King's College Cambridge (2009)
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons -- and now, Carols through Christmastide. Each day, a carol or song of Christmas to carry us through Christmastide to Epiphany.
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscerameruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia.
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose wombwas worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!
24 December 2013 -- Jesus Is the Light of the World
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Victoria Hoppes. Find Victoria on Twitter at @vlhoppes.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. -- John 1:1-5 (NRSV)
In the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, we run an overnight event called Nightwatch during the Advent season. Over the last three weekends we welcomed over 100 young people and their leaders from around the mid-Atlantic region to different parishes in the Philadelphia area. The highlight of the night is a Curated Eucharist, where we invite youth to engage in Scripture and prayer through a series of stations set up around the worship space.
One of the things we are known for during this event is setting up candles everywhere. At our last Nightwatch, we easily had over 600 candles set up. We use lots of different types: tea lights, tapers, pillar candles, votives… we place them everywhere we can. We want to illuminate the worship space with light and eliminate the darkness in the corners of the church.
Tonight, Christ does the same in our lives.
Our Advent wait is over! Tonight we begin the celebration of the light of the world coming into our lives. The light comes to illuminate the darkness in our world. Our Messiah finally comes to pierce the darkness and show us the way of freedom and peace.
Let us rejoice, for the light of the world is finally here!
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and illuminate this light with your celestial brightness; that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
23 December -- Jesus Is Emmanuel
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Eric Clapp. Find Eric at his website and on Twitter.
December 23 - Jesus Is Emmanuel
O Emmanuel Banner, The Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey
The Antiphon
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
The Scripture
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman[a] is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. -- Isaiah 7:14
A few days ago, I was reminded of one of my favorite Advent poems. It's sums up the spirit of the season, the spirit of God's action -- the spirit of Immanuel -- so wonderfully. It's a poem by writer and Anglican priest R.S. Thomas. The poem goes as follows:
And God held in his hand
a small globe. Look, he said,
the son looked. Far off,
as through water, he saw
a scorched land of fierce
color. The light burned
there: crusted buildings
cast their shadows; a bright
serpent, a river
uncoiled itself, radiant
with slime.
On a bare
hill a bare tree saddened
the sky. Many people
held out their thin arms
to it, as though waiting
for a vanished April
to return to its crossed
boughs. The son watched
them. Let me go there, he said.
I love that poem because it captures the poignancy of the Isaiah text that introduces us to Immanuel. In Isaiah 7, we hear that "The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel [which means, God with us.]" When the eternal Word becomes finite flesh in our world, it's the good news that God has decided to come down and be with us. It's a sign that, because of God's deep and faithful love for us, God joins with us in our humanity. God willingly becomes subject to all of the things that we are subject to as humans -- suffering, pain, isolation, loneliness, addiction, mental illness, death, and all of the other junk that is a part of the human experience. God willingly enters this world as a vulnerable infant, not only to be or to simply exist in the world. God willingly enters this world as a vulnerable infant to be with us.
This Christmas Eve, my prayer is that you can remember the story of Immanuel. Remember that God is with you. God is for you. And since God is for you, nothing that stands against you will remain. All because God said, "Let me go there."
God's peace and blessings be with you this day and everyday.
22 December 2013 -- Jesus is King of the Gentiles
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Regina Heater. Find her on Tumblr & on Twitter.
December 22 -- O Rex Gentium
The Antiphon
"O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay."
The Scripture
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -- Isaiah 9:6
As you listen to today's Antiphon and read today's Scripture, what words "jump out" at you?
Which words give you hope or comfort? Which words encourage you as we await the Nativity?
Choose one word and hold it in your mind today. Consider how that word can help you welcome the Christ Child into our world.
21 December 2013 - Jesus is Radiant Dawn
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Audra Turnbull. Connect with Audra on Twitter @audwardway and on Tumblr.
O Oriens
The Antiphon
"Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!"
The Scripture
The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. - Isaiah 9:2
At this time over 2,000 years ago things were not going so well for Mary and Joseph. They were in the midst of travel (on a donkey no less!) and it was winter and Mary was about to be a mother for the first time…with the Son of Man. No big deal.
Naturally, it’s easy to see the darkness in this situation but we’re lucky to know how this story ends. We know that in four days the greatest light would be born. This light would set the world ablaze for more than 2000 years.
Today is literally the darkest day of the year. Not only will it be the shortest day, but for most of the United States many of us will have to hunker down for a big winter storm. Yet, the Antiphon for today is celebrating Jesus as our radiant light. I like to think that it’s a good metaphor for us to remember: that when times get dark, Jesus is always our light. For me, the today’s psalm really drives this point home:
Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
When I first read this passage I was really stuck by the line “And there is nothing hidden from its heat.” Nothing is hidden from the warmth of God’s love. No matter how dark and hopeless our lives may seem, God sees all and is always embracing us by God’s warm embrace.
20 December 2013 - Jesus is the Key of David
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Carolyn Clement. Connect with Carolyn on Twitter @singingcarolyn
O Clavis David
The Antiphon
“O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
The Scripture
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. - Isaiah 22:22
Keys are important.
Even young children know this. Parents of little ones will tell you that their children have three favorite “toys:” cell phones, tv remotes, and the keys. Toddlers are amazingly insightful observers of power.
As a parent of teenagers, keys are quite important in my household, too. The chorus of “Where are the keys?” “Somebody moved my keys!” “Can I have the keys?” rings through our house with some frequency.
Keys are imbued with power for many reasons. They admit us where we want to go. They control who is allowed entry into (or exit out of) places. The old GM ad stated: “It’s not just your car, it’s your freedom,” and, as my teenagers know, we don’t have access to that particular freedom without those keys to the car.
Yes, keys are important.
Yet a key is, in itself, a rather humble object. It’s small and made of fairly ordinary metal. You can get a new house key made in five minutes for a few bucks at your local hardware store. And most of us have useless keys hanging around the house that fit locks we’ve long since left behind as we’ve moved through life.
The Key of David is humble too. For unto us that child was born, in a lowly place and space. But enfleshed in that child was the almighty prince of peace. And even though he is the key, he stands at the door, knocking, waiting for us to open ourselves to light and freedom and life.
So let’s grab the key, get out of the shadows and go. Be free. Live. Alleluia!
Find your own Jesus: light and key on Amazon.
19 December 2013 - Jesus is the Flower of Jesse
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Tracy Alexander.
O Radix Jesse
The Antiphon:
"O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid."
The Scripture:
Out of the stump of David’s family[a] will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. -- Isaiah 11:1-3
A new branch from the old root!
So, who was Jesse? You don’t hear a lot of sermons about him. He was King David’s father. Jesus is also in that lineage. Aside from being David’s father, is he mentioned much? The answer is no. Jesse is a seed.
Who are your ancestors? Where do you come from? What are your roots?
Do you ever think about it?
And we’re not only talking about the genes you get from the people who begat you. What has been poured into you from teachers and mentors and experiences? How has your personality been formed? What seeds have been planted in you?
Who are you?
But maybe – more importantly - Where are you headed?
Let's go back to the seed. In 1 Corinthians 15 - there's talk about seeds.
You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 The Message
That tiny shriveled up, dead morsel of a seed - becomes a beautiful flower.
And if you've ever watched those videos of nature in speed up mode - you remember - it truly is a miracle.
In this busy time of preparing for Christmas - gift buying and wrapping, parties and baked goods, play practices and music rehearsals, all night study sessions and exams - we're also waiting and we are hopeful. We wait hopefully remembering what the love of Christ has done for us and what he will continue to do.
It’s our celebration of his birth and our expectation of his return. Jesus is the flower of Jesse.
Let's be thankful for Jesse – essentially the seed. And for Jesus - the flower that bloomed..
And let's be thankful for the seeds planted in us.
Let us consider what we are becoming because he came.
18 December 2013 -- Jesus Is Lord
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Meredith Gould. Connect with Meredith on her website and on Twitter at @MeredithGould.
O Adonai
The Antiphon:
“O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm..”
The Scripture:
“And God spoke all these words:” Exodus 20:1
God is always speaking through something or someone. What blocks our hearing? What mutes God’s messages? Advent is frequently characterized as a season of “watchful waiting.” How would your experience of Advent be enhanced if you included deep listening?
Image Credit: “Moses Before the Burning Bush” Artist: Marc Chagall
17 December 2013 -- Jesus Is Wisdom
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Meredith Gould. Connect with Meredith on her website and on Twitter at @MeredithGould.
O Sapientia
The Antiphon:
“O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.”
The Scripture:
“She reaches mightily from one of the earth to the other, And she orders all things well.” Wisdom 8:1
In every religious tradition, wisdom is female and, in most sacred art, portrayed as fiercely bravely so. What would your life of faith look like if you not only remembered, but embraced, this view of wisdom?
Image Credit: “Wisdom Window” Artist: John LaFarge (from Wikimedia Commons)
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
December 16 -- John the Baptist Mark 1:1-8
We are grateful today for our friends at Loyola Press, in particular Denise Gorss, for sharing the video for today's reflection with us. It comes from Loyola's Arts & Faith Series.
15 December 2013 - Mary
Advent! Awake! features Ecumenical reflections on our faith stories, using the Jesse Tree & the O Antiphons.
Today’s reflection is by Denise Gorss. Find her on Twitter at @Denise205.
December 15 – Mary Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
Imagine a young girl in a small town. It’s a seemingly ordinary day, with the girl doing some chores before dinner. What do you see this girl doing? Are there smells of dinner simmering? Sounds of little children outside playing?
Then there’s a new sound—maybe it’s the wind, but no, the air is still. Perhaps a chill of fear runs through the girl, or maybe she feels a comforting warmth. She looks up from her work to see an angel. How does the angel appear? What does the girl feel upon realizing she has an angelic visitor? What expression is upon her face?
The angel greets the girl with the now familiar phrase, “Hail, Mary. The Lord is with you.” How do you imagine her reacting? Play the rest of the scene in your mind and your heart. Imagine you are witness to that conversation between Mary and Gabriel. What phrases stand out? What details do you notice? What do you think God is trying to tell you today through those details? Speak to God about it.
You might extend your prayerful imagining of the Annunciation by viewing some of the many depictions of the scene in art. See if there’s an image that particularly strikes you.
And close your time of reflection musically, with a song about what came in that time of waiting after Mary’s yes.
